Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1887-08-31

stand each other" Mr.. Fish says els indispensa-
BILE to the best interests OF the District. To wait
poning Indefinitely the correction OF our tax Jaws
The tax laws are so Jumoled and confused, spread
i I,$.,s over $50 SO y. many years and through
would be folly to expect Congress to prepare
suitable bill for us. Therefore recommend that
commission be appointed to codify all the laws
OF the same, and prepare an assessment or tax-biu
Tor submission to Congress.
TAX SALES.
"The annual advertising OF property on which
the tax is due does not accomplish what was in
tended-the payment Of taxes in arrears. Our
ana compare most favoraOy with those OF other
cities, but there will always be delinquent class
unui IL Is certain that when their property 10
sold after certain liked time the title will IRE
vocably pass and be tndiSputable II is hoped
that you will be able to secure suitable legisia-
ton on this subject this session OF Congress
PAYING TAXES IN TWO INsTALMENTS-
"This method OF accommodating taxpayers does
not meet expectations; II is the cause OF much OF
the arrears OF taxes. People pay the first half,
andthinhing they have paid the whole OF the tax,
remain In ignorance until by advertisement, or
when the title Is searched, II Is found that the
second half Is unpaid. IL makes 1t impossible TO
examine the ledsers and By comparison with the
daily cash receipts see II the payments are duly
received and posted 1t IS Time to arrange
the books for receipt OF the second payment. Il Is
this system that has caused the tax books To re-
main unauliteI for such long pe.toda." lie recoin-
mends in lieu Of TWO instalmenls one payment in
the month OF November, and, as an induueneIt 10
prompt payments, 10 make an abatement OF .
per cent II ali Is paid In November, per cent In
december, and per cent in Jauuary, and on the
niot Ol February charge 10 per cent interest per
annuln in lieu oil all penalties
he urges the necessity OF providing suitable
plats OF subdivision property tor tue assessors
Once as The Office nas now no authentic or Official
pits Oh recent Subdivisions. he invites attenI0
To the necessity OF action In relation the -
OF ground Oh the north side OF Is street Northwest
between TN ana 15tn streets. "It sceins 10 ine,"
he adds, shat the General GOvet nlnenL might We
Induced TO place the title la the present ON ners la
order tnat IL may br properly used, improved, aud
assessed"
PERSONAL TAX
"The arguments against this tax in this Dis
trct,' Mr.. Fish says shave been fully and ably
set forth in the reports OF my predecessor, espe-
cially In his repor.s or 1879 and lSS-. 10 which
since adds 10 the force OF those views Inc per-
sunIi-tax laws. not entirely removed,
should be promptly amended to SUIT
the city and low rate OF Interest. Money can De
had here ON real estate security Tor pc. ceut-tO
expect 10 collect IL per cen. OF this Is prepos-
ferrous. Ii Is just aud proper that loans upon real
estate should not be taxed. Ia concluding. ais re-
port FISH Calls attention TO Lie Responsibilities
and arduoua duties imposed upon his c.er. AID
say tuey have less pay luAn tne C.crhS III any
other portion OF the District government
The ESTIMATES.
In submitting the estimates Of the assessors
Office Mir, Fish says: "Tne District OF Columbia Is
rapidly increasing in population, i'm prOvements,
wealth ami iulp Jit 2uUe the federal ciLy and
the LABOR, or IL, oitS Increase wlLn its pro- ress
+ peclal1y Is this Tie Case In The asses,O. > Mce
:" niie the work has Increased The lorce has not
OF property, in 1880 there were about
zoos, II Is estimated, luere al be ne.i s.vuO. TAe
c.erAs in tuls ONCE lave Decome 'expe. "a and
tneir services should receive just mpen,Auon.
he labor VI Assessing and prep ring tue Douks uf
the county Is greater now Juan II Was Ior ths
entire District lew years ago. As nearly aiI the
revenues are derived Irom the lauor VI
tne Assessors Oluce, the uiUre accurately AMI
eiliyienily thu,e labors are periOrl.ed
Tue better satisfied will PARTIES be. Much prop
erty esca pes taxation from want OF proper io,ce
10 assess AMI cOi.ert It, The District has suffered
because this office ndS not Oeeu provided viii a
proper force Oh clerks and adequate COMPENSATION
he suDmits The loilOw1ng est1uates .or the en-
suing Year: Assessment brAAcu-asse,Sor 5000;
assistant assessor, S2,0OO; ASSISTANT asscssor
81 800; one cierA, $780, one clerk, u, ~; one
s1.2OO each, $4,000; one clerA, $1,000. Total
sII,OO0.
Inspector or licenses $1,000; one assistant In
Spector OF licenses, $500; Total, 81, 800.
one messenger, $s4O
Contingent EXPENSES, 81 600.
Grand IoLal for office, >.<s.s4O.
In This estimate are Included two clerks at
81, 400 EACH and one at $1,000, NOW appropriated
on the assessors roll
THE BILL. PROPOSED BY MR. FISH
The bill which Mr.. Fish submits with his report
is entitled San act TO levy an assessment OF the
real estate in the District OF Columbia in the year
1889. Tor the purposes OF taxation" 1t provides
day OF January, 1883. or as soon thereafter a.
practicable, divide The District OF Columbia into
six assessment districts and appoint sub
assessor Ior eacn district, who shall receive
annual salary OF 8, 500 each, and be re ,ldent
OF the district to when appointed. The duties OF
said subassessors shall be TO assess ali rea prop
value on the first day or July In each year, aid
make return OF the same 70 the Assessor VI
tn the Pr ne ep G sha before ssG the 5 a
other duties may be required by the assessor OF
the District as will facilitate the business OF his
e.ch sub assessor shall provide himself with suit.
abuIe Office room in his district. The Commas
stoners shall provide an Office for said sub asses
tendance daily, to hear and determine com
Shall appear that an error has been made
in the assessment OF land or Improvements or
that improvements have been injured or destroyed
by flood or fire. they may with q concurrence OF
majority OF said sub-assess0rs, and approval OF
the assessor OF the District, correct said
assessment.
Appointments by the President.
The President to-day made the following ap-
s.. Carlisle, Of Louisiana, to be mInister-resi-
dent and cOnsul-general TO Bolivia
Jas. G. Qugge, OF PennSy wanna, to be consul OF
the United States at Port Stanley and st. Thomas,
Ontario.
ARMY ORDERs.-Capt. VIM. Fletcher, Goth in
fantry, having served more than forty years, is.
at his own request by direction OF the President,
placed on the retired list GATE. First. Lieut..
Alexander N. Patch, 4th cavalry, having been
found tncapacttated Tor active service, has been
granted leave of absence until further orders.
Capt. II. G. Leitch I'd artillery, has been granted
four months leave for disability. Capt Jas. W.
Powell, 9th infantry, granted Tour months leave.
PRoMorEp.-AlexanderK X. Meek, OF Tenn, has
been promoted from 200 TO 81 400 In the Pension
Office.
ASSAULT CASES.-In the Police Court this morn
ing Matilda Brown, a colored girl, was charged
with having on Saturday last committed an as
colored woman. Matilda was fined SO or 30 days
in jatl.-Jas. Williams and VIM. Carter were
charged to-day with the larceny OF shirts, and was
sentenced to go days each in JaiL-Wm. Harris
was charged with an assault on girl, Sidney
Jones' and her mother. The court gave him four
months for assauluing the daughter and two
months for assaulting the mother.
COL BOYD DYiNG.-Col VIM. II. Boyd the we'll
known directory man, who has resided here since
the war is supposed to be dying this afternoon.
His physicians this morning informed the family
that they could do nothing further to prOlOng his
life. HIS disease is an affection OF the Kidneys
RANGE OF THE THEaMoNETKR--The following
were the readings at the Signal Oliice to-day: a
m, 5S; , p. H., rs; MAXIMUM 20; lniiiimum, "a.
CHARGED WITH ExBEz1LEXENr. - Richard B.
lOv1 in Dbl IN rf,n